The Pizza Club was a group of ministers in the second May ministry active from October 2018 to May 2019 who aimed to prevent Prime Minister Theresa May from delivering her preferred soft Brexit and force a hard Brexit, either by putting pressure on May or by triggering a leadership election. The group was composed of Andrea Leadsom, Chris Grayling, Michael Gove, Penny Mordaunt and Liam Fox. Leadsom convened the Pizza Club in October 2018.[1][2] Subsequent meetings took place in Leadsom's parliamentary offices.[3]
Events
editFormation
editThe group formed in October 2018 when Leadsom invited several other hard-Brexit supporting Cabinet ministers to join her for takeaway pizza in her office.
March 2019 proposed Brexit extension
editThe Pizza Club met in March to discuss and co-ordinate opposition to a long Brexit extension, with the group holding out continued hope for an exit on the 29th, May's original promised Brexit deadline.[3]
May 2019 withdrawal agreement vote
editRobert Peston reported in May 2019 that the Pizza Club pressured Theresa May to cancel a scheduled vote on the withdrawal agreement.[4]
References
edit- ^ Syal and Stewart, Rajeev and Heather (15 October 2018). "Pro-Brexit ministers urged to quit to scupper Theresa May's plans". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Waugh, Paul (15 October 2018). "A Third Of Theresa May's Cabinet Met Over Pizza To Discuss How To Stop Her Delivering A 'Soft Brexit'". The Sun. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b Swinford, Steven (19 March 2019). "'The last days of Rome': How Cabinet divisions were laid bare amid stark warnings over long Brexit delay". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Robert Peston [Tweet]. "I am told that the pizza club of Brexiter cabinet ministers, led by @andrealeadsom, are telling PM she must pull the Withdrawal Agreement Bill vote. Which @theresa_may may think is a bit rich, since it was Leadsom who led charge for the vote to be brought forward." 22 May 2019.